Research has shown that stress and other psychological factors can influence cancer outcomes.

Did you know?

Stress is the body’s response to any demand, whether physical or psychological, and is influenced by its coping abilities.¹

Psychosocial stress may produce a physiological stress response involving the secretion of stress hormones.²

Research suggests that long-term exposure to stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline may promote tumour growth.^3,4

Overactivating the stress response may impair immune response⁵, while the release of stress hormones may impact DNA repair and tumour cell growth.^6,7

Stress can trigger and maintain chronic inflammation², which plays roles in cancer promotion and progression.⁸

People who are stressed are more likely to smoke tobacco⁹, drink too much alcohol¹⁰, and be obese¹¹ – all behaviours that are risk factors for cancer^12,13 and are associated with chronic inflammation.¹⁴

The Facts

Conflicting research results suggest that stress is indirectly associated with cancer risk.¹⁵

Some studies showed an association between stress and cancer:

• In a Swedish study of 1,462 women, women who reported stress in the previous five years were twice as likely to have breast cancer as women reporting no stress.¹⁶
• A Finnish study of 10,808 women found that each increase in stressful life events raised the risk of breast cancer by 7%. For major life events only (e.g. divorce, separation, or death of a loved one), the risk estimate rose to 35%.¹⁷

Other studies showed no association between stress and cancer:

• A UK study of 113,000 women found that stress frequency and negative life events were not significantly related to risk of breast cancer.18
• An American study of 37,562 female nurses found that job stress was not associated with breast cancer risk.¹⁹
• In a Scottish study of 7,000+ adults, medium to high daily stress levels were weakly associated with risk of developing breast cancer in middle aged women.²⁰
• A meta-analysis of 12 European studies found that high job strain was not associated with overall risk of cancer or risk of breast cancer.²¹

What can we do about it

Regardless of whether stress directly causes cancer, stress affects your overall health.

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There is some evidence that diet may help protect against the effects of stress.²² Studies looking at the Mediterranean dietary pattern show that a mostly plant-based diet improves resilience and reduces risk of anxiety and depression.  Eating wholegrains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and healthy plant fats helps reduce risk of some mental health problems, including stress.

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Chronic stress has been linked with higher rates of tobacco use⁹ and alcohol consumption¹⁰, both of which can increase your risk of cancer. Finding healthier ways to manage stress can be beneficial.

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Emotional and social support⁶ can help you better cope with psychological stress. Take time to cultivate relationships with loved ones. 

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Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and prayer.

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Exercise has been shown to effectively reduce stress levels and cancer risk.²³

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Healthy sleep is essential to better manage stress. Make it a priority. Aim for seven to eight hours per night.

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Find professional support through counselling or psychotherapy.

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